More than 110 people died and 510 were injured in the earthquake that struck the western part of Japan on New Year's Day, rescue services said today, as they continue to search for possible survivors in difficult winter weather conditions.
Around 210 people are still missing, according to a new tally published by local authorities, but hopes of finding survivors nearly five days after the catastrophe are dwindling.
A 7,5-magnitude earthquake hit Japan's Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture on the afternoon of Jan. 1 and tore through a narrow strip about XNUMX kilometers long in the Sea of Japan, triggering landslides and collapsing buildings and roads.
The earthquake was felt as far as Tokyo, 300 kilometers away, and caused tsunami waves of more than one meter that hit the coast in some places and engulfed buildings and roads along the sea, throwing ships ashore.
Rescuers will have an even more difficult task this weekend due to the weather conditions, as rain and snow are expected with temperatures close to zero degrees.
Today, more than 30.000 people have been sheltered in 350 evacuation centers in the Ishikawa department, where the Noto peninsula is located.
Almost 25.000 households are still without electricity, and more than 70.000 residents are without water this morning in that department and in two others further north.
Local authorities have urged people who do not live on the Noto peninsula, which is a tourist destination, to avoid arrivals that are not necessary or urgent, so as not to disrupt rescue operations and the delivery of aid to the affected people.
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